Penny Alsager

Penny Ann Alsager

Penny Alsager, 68, of Rochester, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on September 29th, 2024, at St. Mary's Hospital, after a brief and unexpected illness.

Penny was kind and loving, a devoted wife and mother, and the proudest new grandma. A lifelong feminist, she admirably balanced her scholarly and professional pursuits with a rich and happy family life, all the while exuding a sense of calm and vision that was a source of inspiration and comfort to many.

Penny Ann Alsager was born on October 29th, 1955, in Omaha, Nebraska to Perry Alsager and JoAnn Hoban. Her family moved to Battle Creek, Michigan during her youth. There, she attended Lakeview High School and recently her 50th class reunion (class of '74). One fun fact about Penny is that she flew to Europe on an inaugural flight of the Boeing 747 with her father and other Kellogg executives. She then went on to the University of Michigan to receive a B.S. in Botany and two M.S. degrees, one in Applied Economics and one in Regional Planning. At Michigan, she met her husband, Wilson Lee. They moved to Rochester, Minnesota in 1981 and were married on October 1st, 1983. During her time in Rochester, she was a real estate developer and general contractor, serving as the Vice President of Elcor Enterprise from 1981 to 1983 and the President of Elcor Development from 1983 to 2004 and managing multiple rental properties over the following decades. One of her proudest achievements was restoring 304 6th St SW, a Historic Southwest Rochester home built in 1885. For the next chapter in her life, she received her Teaching License and Gifted Education Certificate from Winona State University. From 2004 to 2015, she was the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Coordinator at Willow Creek Middle and Century High Schools. During this time, she also raised her two children, Catherine and Christopher. She played an active part in their school days, volunteering as a Girl Scout Troop leader and serving terms as both the Hoover and Kellogg PTA/PTSA President. During her retirement, she played tennis several times a week and remained active in her book club and attached to her close-knit group of friends (the "Gaggle") in addition to volunteering for the Rochester Women's Shelter and the League of Women Voters and talking on the phone with her sisters nearly every day. An avid gardener, she had the most beautiful flowers and houseplants. She had the most wonderful laugh, too.

Penny is survived by her husband, Wilson; children Catherine (Tristan Gagnon-Bartsch) Lee and Christoper Lee; siblings Pam (Ron) Bloomberg and Patty (Mike) McGeorge; and granddaughter Eleanor. She is preceded in death by her parents.

A memorial service will be held for Penny at 2 pm on November 2nd, 2024, at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home in Rochester, Minnesota, with a visitation starting at noon and a time for gathering after.

Flowers for the service are appreciated (She loved purple). Please also consider donating to causes she championed such as Recovery is Happening or Paws and Claws Humane Society.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Alsager Lee family; To share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.